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Original poster

Lunch box police

79 replies

custardbear · 25/04/2021 07:17

We had a note in the newsletter this week aski parents to refrain from putting chocolate biscuits into lunch boxes and listing a pile of healthy snacks to chose instead.

I just checked the school menu and their pudding choices include
Marble cake
Brownie
Honey cake
Scone with jam and cream
Cornflake tart
Caramel tart

WTF?! why can't my child have a healthy lunch plus a chocolate treat like a penguin etc?!

OP posts:
MagpieSong · 25/04/2021 07:48

I don’t really get the issue with this. I don’t give my child school dinners for that reason (he needs low salt and sugar diet for kidney issues), but he won’t die from a healthy lunch and exceptions are made for those with recognised issues.

Yes, your child is fine, they may well have other parents giving only really unhealthy food and so are trying to use rules to guide these parents towards feeding children better. If a penguin is that important, can’t they have it at home?

Original poster
custardbear · 25/04/2021 08:00

It's the double standards I'm annoyed about to be honest

OP posts:
Houseofflu · 25/04/2021 08:03

I don't understand why brownie is healther than chocolate biscuit

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tatoowooo · 25/04/2021 08:05

I would make my own version of
Marble cake
Brownie
Honey cake
Scone with jam and cream
Cornflake tart
Caramel tart
A tell them to piss off!!

Original poster
custardbear · 25/04/2021 08:05

Exactly @Houseofflu - all their puddings, except the odd one with jelly and fruit, would be considered not allowable with this new 'rule'

OP posts:
Original poster
custardbear · 25/04/2021 08:06

Lol @tatoowooo - I don't have time to do so much baking

OP posts:
Cupcakegirl13 · 25/04/2021 08:07

Our school do this and I pointed it out to them , haven’t had an email / newsletter since.

FindingMeno · 25/04/2021 08:07

I agree.
Also, I used to get very annoyed at the handing out of sweets on birthdays.
One of my dc' s had tooth enamel problems and so I had to actively avoid too much sugar especially chewy stuff that sticks round the teeth.
I put in healthy lunches ( but was limited because no nut containing items allowed because of another child's severe allergy - so for good reason) and struggled to put in options that would be eaten, to find that she was chewing on a drumstick lolly coming out of school.
There needs to be consistency if there are these rules.

Original poster
custardbear · 25/04/2021 08:08

@Cupcakegirl13 - I may do the same to be honest - shrieks of 'allowable if you pay for pudding, but not if you're packed lunches'

OP posts:
BreakfastOfWaffles · 25/04/2021 08:08

Oh, the hypocrisy of this at primary school used to drive me up the wall. There they were confiscating pieces of cake from the packed lunches, whilst merrily serving the school lunch kids a sticky toffee pudding! It should be the same policy across both lunch options.

Original poster
custardbear · 25/04/2021 08:10

Confiscating @BreakfastOfWaffles 😳 I'd be really cross about that!

OP posts:
NannyR · 25/04/2021 08:11

The cakes that they serve at school are made with a very low sugar content and quite small portions.

KatherineOfGaunt · 25/04/2021 08:13

It's partly because there are parents who send their children in with packed lunch but need guidance about how to feed their children a balanced diet, and partly about mass-catering on a school dinner budget. I've seen some schools do it better than others.

There's also more of a move to not allowing sweets/chocolate for birthdays - the last two schools I worked in had this rule.

MagpieSong · 25/04/2021 08:14

@custardbear

It's the double standards I'm annoyed about to be honest
Yes, that’s fair enough, actually. I’d point that out.
Tlollj · 25/04/2021 08:17

I’m an old gimmer but the idea of school telling me what my children could’ve taken to eat is unbelievable. I’d tell them to mind their own business.

Idontgiveagriffindamn · 25/04/2021 08:17

@NannyR

The cakes that they serve at school are made with a very low sugar content and quite small portions.
This. At work we did some volunteering at a school and they provided lunch. We were all excited as the pudding was chocolate sponge and chocolate custard. I’m not even sure there was any chocolate / sugar in it. I don’t think they need a pudding after a school dinner but they aren’t as bad as some of the things banned from lunchboxes
BeingATwatItsABingThing · 25/04/2021 08:18

Our school makes cakes with natural sweeteners (fruit, etc.) so they are much healthier than a store bought cake. DD’s school doesn’t allow chocolate bars but they do allow small cakes or biscuits. I send DD with a packet of mini cookies for example.

The one that annoys me more is the strict rules around fruit or veg only at playtime in my school but then they had a tuck shop where children could buy enormous slabs of shortbread or bags of popcorn. Hmm

Whinge · 25/04/2021 08:18

@NannyR

The cakes that they serve at school are made with a very low sugar content and quite small portions.
This. /\/\

They're nothing like their normal versions we're used to, in fact many of the kids don't eat them as they taste bloody vile.

BeingATwatItsABingThing · 25/04/2021 08:21

@Tlollj

I’m an old gimmer but the idea of school telling me what my children could’ve taken to eat is unbelievable. I’d tell them to mind their own business.
Most parents don’t need to be told what to feed their children but, unfortunately, some do.

My most Shock lunchbox was a boy who was sent with a litre tub of popcorn. That was it. He had nothing else. We rallied around to find him a proper lunch.

We also have parents pick up their children with share bags of Haribo ready for each child. I really wish I was joking.

Original poster
custardbear · 25/04/2021 08:25

A litre of popcorn 😳

OP posts:
Whinge · 25/04/2021 08:26

My most shock lunchbox was a boy who was sent with a litre tub of popcorn. That was it. He had nothing else. We rallied around to find him a proper lunch.

We've had similar, one poor child was sent in with 4 Krispy Kreme doughnuts and nothing else. Sad

CeibaTree · 25/04/2021 08:26

Have you pointed out the hypocrisy to the school OP? - it is very annoying. My eldest goes to an after school club run by an external company, but they have to adhere to the school's 'snack rules' so they are only allowed cut fruit/veggies or a cheese sandwich. So basically they have to have stuff that has been festering in a lunch box all day, going soft/discoloured or sandwich with warm smelly cheese! Anything that would be sensible for a snack that has to hang around in a lunch box all day like breadsticks or a nakd bar is banned.

Bumblebeeanddog · 25/04/2021 08:29

Why an earth are they telling you what to feed your child?? None of their business. A healthy lunch and a chocolate biscuit is fine, no cause for concern there....

Either continue as you are or send in a cherry bakewell or another type of cake. If they say anything, explain you'll refrain from sending in a single chocolate biscuit or a cake when the rules are applied fairly. If the children having school dinners can have a pudding, so can yours.

Original poster
custardbear · 25/04/2021 08:29

@CeibaTree - breadsticks is something they've suggested we do use as a healthy snack! Along with popcorn, cheese and crackers, fruit and veg

OP posts:
BeingATwatItsABingThing · 25/04/2021 08:30

@Whinge

My most shock lunchbox was a boy who was sent with a litre tub of popcorn. That was it. He had nothing else. We rallied around to find him a proper lunch.

We've had similar, one poor child was sent in with 4 Krispy Kreme doughnuts and nothing else. Sad

It’s awful, isn’t it! These children have massive sugar crashes in the afternoon.

4 Krispy Kremes sounds great to a child (and an adult!) but it’s a terrible lunch.